JEDIBEEL OFF TO MELBOURNE FOR GROUP 1 MISSION

THURSDAY: February 12, 2026: BRAD Widdup is leaving nothing to chance in his bid to add a second Melbourne Group 1 to his resume.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer has sent his top sprinter Jedibeel to Melbourne early for Saturday week’s $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

And he has got in early to book Melbourne gun Damian Lane for the mount.

Widdup’s breakthrough Group 1 winner was with Icebath in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) against her own sex at Flemington in 2022, when partnered by another Melbourne gun Craig Williams.

Jedibeel has been a wonderful performer for the stable, winning eight races and being placed as many times and earning nearly $1.7m prizemoney.

He hasn’t raced since striking an unsuitable heavy track in Giga Kick’s Group 1 VRC Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 8, and has won both his recent trials at Hawkesbury (800m on January 23) and Canterbury (902m on February 6).

All the six-year-old’s wins have been on good (five) and soft (three) ground.

“I’m really happy with how Jedibeel is going,” Widdup said this morning.

“I wanted to send him to Melbourne early (he arrived this morning) to give him every chance to settle in leading up to the Oakleigh Plate.

“Whilst he is being stabled at Flemington, I’m hoping to be able to give him a gallop at Caulfield early next week.

“There’s no set plan with Jedibeel after Saturday week, but we’ll look to place him in suitable races, perhaps even in Adelaide and Perth.”

Whilst Jedibeel wasn’t initially in TAB’s Oakleigh Plate market, he was included today as a $26 chance, and quickly firmed to $15.

Widdup also has secured Lane for stablemate Nashville Jack in the $1m Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on February 28.

As the name implies, the feature sprint is restricted to eligible Inglis graduates who are three-year-olds.

Nashville Jack at $71 finished a barnstorming second to favorite Grafterburners in the $3m Sunlight Plate (1100m) at the Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival on January 10 at his first start since mid-August.

“It was a terrific run, and the Inglis Sprint looks the next logical step,” Widdup said.

“Nashville Jack will trial at Warwick Farm on Monday.”

Nashville Jack, a colt by Golden Slipper winner Farnan, has raced only five times and his Sunlight second ($390,000) sent his earnings beyond $522,000.

Meanwhile, Widdup is looking forward to taking Savvy Hallie back to the races at Royal Randwick on Saturday for the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m).

With Tommy Berry, who partnered the filly in her latest Sunlight fourth at the Gold Coast, continuing his association with last spring’s Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) winner and favorite Apocalyptic, Widdup has booked Nash Rawiller.

“Nash will most likely ride Savvy Hallie 0.5kg overweight at 56.5kg,” Widdup said.

“She had a little break after she came home from the Gold Coast, and had a jumpout at Hawkesbury last Wednesday.

“Savvy Hallie goes into the Light Fingers in good order, and obviously Apocalyptic is the one we have to beat.”